Rapid Fire Rankings

Summary

Bad On Paper Podcast - Episode: Rapid Fire Rankings Release Date: March 12, 2025

Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Description: Join Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter every Wednesday for a dose of books and banter, along with interviews with women who inspire us.

---

Overview

In this lively episode of Bad On Paper, hosts Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter dive into a dynamic Rapid Fire Rankings segment. The episode, titled "Rapid Fire Rankings," features a variety of categories sourced directly from their listeners, allowing Becca and Olivia to share their top three favorites in each area. From favorite foods and dips to beloved books and pop culture references, the hosts engage in spirited discussions, sprinkled with personal anecdotes and humorous exchanges.

---

Highs and Lows

Timestamp: [00:56] - [10:11]

Before diving into the rapid-fire segments, Olivia and Becca share the highlights and challenges of their week. Olivia recounts attending Reese Witherspoon's Book Club event and moderating Holly Brickley's book tour for Deep Cuts. Becca, on the other hand, discusses her struggles with ordering wardrobe items for her author portraits, particularly her experience with expensive sweaters from Cezanne.

Notable Quotes:

• Olivia: "I had such a bookish week in the best way."
• Becca: "I'm afraid I'm also going to love them. I have to make some hard decisions."

---

Rapid Fire Rankings

1. Food

Timestamp: [12:54] - [19:49]

The most requested category from listeners was favorite Trader Joe's products. Olivia candidly admits she doesn't frequent Trader Joe's often, instead recommending Costco staples.

Top Three from Costco:

1. Costco Rotisserie Chicken ([13:51])
   • Olivia: "They're pumped full of things that they should not be pumped full of, but it is just the best."
2. Costco Pizza ([14:00])
   • Olivia: "It's the perfect slice of pizza for $1."
3. Bulldog Ramen Carbonara Flavor ([15:56])
   • Olivia: "It's cheesy and delicious, especially when made in a sauté pan."

Becca shares her top three Trader Joe's favorites:

1. Taco Seasoning ([17:30])
   • Becca: "They make the best premixed taco seasoning."
2. Mini Ice Cream Cones ([18:21])
   • Becca: "My favorite is the coffee chocolate ones."
3. Pastry Pups ([19:21])
   • Becca: "They're like miniature pigs in a blanket and perfect for appetizers."

2. Fast Food Orders

Timestamp: [19:49] - [27:42]

Olivia and Becca each share their favorite fast food orders, detailing specific preferences and memorable experiences.

Olivia's Top Fast Food Picks:

1. McDonald's: Two Cheeseburgers with Extra Pickles ([20:19])
   • Olivia: "The perfect balance of being completely satisfying."
2. Auntie Anne's Pretzel Bites ([20:58])
   • Olivia: "Cheese sauce on the side is a must."
3. Starbucks: Iced Coffee with Cream and Vanilla ([21:18])
   • Olivia: "It's my go-to drink order."

Becca's Top Fast Food Picks:

1. McDonald's Chicken Selects with Buffalo Sauce ([22:10])
   • Becca: "They're superior to nuggets."
2. Shake Shack Burger with Hot Cherry Peppers ([22:40])
   • Becca: "Add pickles and sliced onion for the perfect bite."
3. Dunkin': Medium Hazelnut Iced Coffee and Sausage Egg Cheese Wake-Up Wrap ([23:45])
   • Becca: "Great for a quick, satisfying breakfast."

3. Dips

Timestamp: [25:25] - [30:19]

The hosts explore their favorite dips, highlighting both classic and unique options.

Becca's Top Dips:

1. Chili Salsa ([25:33])
2. Hillstone Spinach and Artichoke Dip ([25:50])
3. Spicy Feta Dip ([25:57])

Olivia's Top Dips:

1. Hell of a Good Onion Dip ([26:08])
2. Mom's Spinach Dip in a Rye Bread Bowl ([26:18])
3. Chili's Ranch ([27:27])

4. Plain Snacks

Timestamp: [27:45] - [30:19]

Discussing simple yet satisfying snacks, Olivia and Becca list their go-to options.

Olivia's Favorites:

1. Gardetto Snack Mix ([27:57])
2. Cheez-It Crunch ([28:20])
3. Peanut M&Ms ([28:59])

Becca's Favorites:

1. Mini Pretzels ([29:11])
2. Twizzlers ([29:32])
3. Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers ([29:56])

5. Books

Timestamp: [30:19] - [40:24]

The segment shifts to literature, with both hosts sharing their favorite romance and thriller novels, as well as books they believe deserve more recognition.

Romance Favorites:

• Becca's Top Three:

  1. "The Idea of You" by Robin Lee
  2. "The Royal We" by Heather Cox and Jessica Morgan
  3. "People We Meet on Vacation" by Emily Henry

• Olivia's Top Three:

  1. "Talking at Night" by Clara D'Averley
  2. "Shark Heart" by Emily Hayback
  3. "Paper Palace" by Miranda Cowley Heller

Thriller Favorites:

• Olivia's Top Three:

  1. "The Push" by Ashley Audrain
  2. "Night Watching" by Tracy Sierra
  3. "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn

• Becca's Top Three:

  1. "Verity" by Colleen Hoover
  2. "First Fly Wins" by Ashley Elston
  3. "All These Beautiful Strangers" by Elizabeth Klayfoff

Books Deserving More Hype:

• Becca's Picks:

  1. "Always and Forever" by Allison Lin
  2. "Musical Chairs" by Amy Popel
  3. "A Sky Painted Gold" by Laura Wood

• Olivia's Picks:

  1. "We All Want Impossible Things" by Kathryn Newman
  2. "Rainbow Black" by Maggie Thrash
  3. "Beauty Land" by Marie Helene Bertino

Books to Recommend:

• Becca's Recommendations:

  1. "The Idea of You" by Robin Lee
  2. "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir
  3. "The Wedding People"

• Olivia's Recommendations:

  1. "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir
  2. "The Wedding People"
  3. "The Husbands"

6. Pop Culture

Timestamp: [46:46] - [52:05]

The hosts discuss their favorite newsletters, sharing their top picks that keep them informed and entertained.

Olivia's Favorite Newsletters:

1. "The Composite" by Jordan Bojejian ([47:15])
2. "Morning Person" by Leslie Stevens ([47:25])
3. "Literary Leanings" by Michelle Martin ([47:35])

Becca's Favorite Newsletters:

1. "As Seen On" by Achuko Akpovobo ([47:45])
2. "Gossip Time" by Allie Jones ([48:00])
3. "Galley Brag" by Ezra Kapoor ([48:15])

7. Celebrity Crushes

Timestamp: [49:51] - [55:52]

A nostalgic dive into the hosts' formative celebrity crushes, revealing personal stories and amusing backstories.

Olivia's Crushes:

1. Dan Bailey – A family friend who left a lasting impression from a childhood experience.
   Olivia: "He was just like the pinnacle of male perfection to me at 14."
2. Ashton Kutcher – Deeply into his early work and personal charm.
3. Sean Faris & Robert Pattinson – From early breakouts to iconic roles.

Becca's Crushes:

1. Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic Era) – Becca: "He's like the Robert Pattinson of my micro generation."
2. Paul Walker – A teenage idol.
   Becca: "Paul Walker did it for Teen Me."
3. Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter from The O.C.) –
   Becca: "He's still out there doing his thing."

8. Karaoke Songs

Timestamp: [55:52] - [60:30]

Sharing their go-to karaoke tracks, Olivia and Becca reveal their song choices and the rationale behind them.

Olivia's Karaoke Songs:

1. "Goodbye Earl" by The Chicks ([56:37])
2. "2AM" by Anna Nalick ([56:53])
3. "How to Save a Life" by The Fray ([57:03])

Becca's Karaoke Songs:

1. "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias ([57:27])
2. "Never Ever" by All Saints ([57:37])
3. "Spice Up Your Life" by Spice Girls ([57:45])

9. TV Romance Plotlines or Couples

Timestamp: [60:30] - [64:51]

The hosts reminisce about their favorite on-screen romances, highlighting chemistry and memorable storylines.

Becca's Favorite TV Romances:

1. Olivia Fitz & Jake on Scandal ([58:58])
2. Blair Waldorf & Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl ([59:35])
3. Connor & Marianne on Normal People ([59:40])

Olivia's Favorite TV Romances:

1. Nick & Jess on New Girl ([60:19])
2. Emma & Dexter
3. Priest & Fleabag on Fleabag ([60:30])

10. Reality TV

Timestamp: [64:51] - [69:06]

Discussing their favorite reality television shows, Olivia and Becca explore various franchises and personal preferences.

Becca's Reality TV Picks:

1. Real Housewives of New York ([66:11])
2. NYC Prep (Reality Gossip Girl) ([66:28])
3. Laguna Beach ([63:03])

Olivia's Reality TV Picks:

1. Real Housewives at Salt Lake City ([66:48])
2. Real Housewives of Orange County ([66:55])
3. Below Deck ([67:05])

11. Miscellaneous

Timestamp: [69:06] - [81:36]

A mixed bag of topics, including tips for resetting, candle scents, beauty products, and heartfelt compliments.

Things to Do When You Need a Reset:

• Becca: Take a walk, go to bed early, and engage in angry journal entries.
• Olivia: Journal, let her phone die, and avoid overusing it.

Candle Scents:

• Becca: Savant Summer Splendor, Brooklyn Candle Company Apple Cider, Hotel Lobby Candle.
• Olivia: Prefers versatile scents from Marshalls, avoiding heavy colognes.

Late 90s, Early 2000s Beauty Products:

• Olivia's Favorites:

  1. Dream Matte Mousse Foundation
  2. Lancome Juicy Tube Lip Gloss
  3. Clearasal Face Pads

• Becca's Favorites:

  1. Hard Candy Lip Gloss
  2. Stila Kitten Sparkle Powder
  3. Clinique Black Honey Lipstick

Compliments That Stick Forever:

• Becca: Being told she’s a good writer, a good friend, and funny.
• Olivia: Receiving feedback that her essays make others feel less alone.

---

Final Thoughts and Obsessions

Timestamp: [75:44] - [81:36]

The episode concludes with Olivia and Becca sharing their current obsessions. Olivia raves about her newly purchased comfortable barrel jean overalls from Gap, while Becca discusses her latest TV obsession, Paradise on Hulu, and eagerly anticipates future shows and book club selections.

Notable Quotes:

• Becca: "Episode seven of Paradise is one of the best episodes of television ever."
• Olivia: "They are so absurdly comfortable. I'm going back and buying multiples."

---

Conclusion

Bad On Paper's "Rapid Fire Rankings" episode offers a comprehensive and engaging look into Olivia and Becca's personal favorites across various categories. From cherished books and delectable foods to nostalgic beauty products and unforgettable TV romances, the hosts provide listeners with insightful recommendations and relatable stories. Whether you're a regular listener or new to the show, this episode is a delightful blend of fun rankings and heartfelt conversations that capture the essence of Bad On Paper.

---

Connect with the Hosts

• Facebook Group: Bad On Paper Podcast
• Instagram:
  • Olivia: @boundandpaperpodcast
  • Becca: @ecamfreeman
• Newsletters:
  • Olivia: Substack (link not provided)
  • Becca: @beccafreeman on Substack

Stay tuned for their next episode and join their vibrant community for more book discussions and inspiring interviews!

Transcript

[A]

Hi, everyone, and welcome to Bat on Paper podcast. I'm Olivia, mentor.

[B]

And I'm Becca Freeman.

[A]

And today we have a fun rapid fire. It's not really a game. How would you describe this?

[B]

It's kind of a game.

[A]

It was. It was sourced by the listeners, which I love the most. You guys really came to bat when we said give us things that you want us to name our top three of, which is not a very succinct way to put it, but talk about our top three of a bunch of things. Trader Joe's items, fast food orders, plain snacks, books, of course. We've got a lot. A variety, a smorgasbord.

[B]

I'm very excited. I feel like this is. I mean, we're recording in advance, so it's not daylight savings yet, but I feel like this is the kind of punchy, happy, upbeat energy that next week is going to have. I always feel so good after daylight savings.

[A]

Yeah, I'm ready.

[B]

Me too.

[A]

Well, tell me your high.

[B]

Oh, I've had such a bookish week in the best way. I went to an event on Tuesday for Reese's Book Club and Apple Books, which was so cool. It was such a pinch me moment. It was a smaller event than I expected. Like, I'm really bad at guessing numbers of things. I have terrible spatial relations, but I guess maybe it was 40 or 50 people. And it was a conversation between Reese Witherspoon and Claire Leslie hall, who wrote Broken country, which, Olivia, you already read and is the Reese's Book Club March pick. So it was a really interesting discussion and such a cool event. And then on Thursday, I moderated an event for Holly Brickley, the author of Deep Cuts, for her book tour. And, oh, it was so nice. There were a bunch of listeners there who I got to meet, which was so lovely. And I'm so obsessed with this book. It was such a joy to talk to Holly more about its origins and her. Her backstory.

[A]

That sounds so fun. If I could go to a book event, an author event, every day of my life, I would.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

I love them so much. Like, I always learn so much. I find them so fascinating. Like, it just sounds. Sounds like a great week.

[B]

It was. What about you? What's your high?

[A]

My high and low is the same. I found myself in a bit of a predicament, Becca. So as I mentioned last week, I have been sourcing outfits for my author portraits, which were yesterday and went well.

[B]

But I've seen two previews. The sneak previews are really cute, or not even Cute, serious, and beautiful, and I'll take that. They hit the tone.

[A]

I appreciate that. I wasn't going for anything fancy with the outfits. I wanted to keep it very classic. But for one of them, I wanted to be wearing a sweater. Just. I feel like a sweater is cozy. It's, like, classic. I can look at it in 20 years, and it won't look like, wow, I took that in the year 2025. So I've been sourcing different sweaters. I really wanted to do a blue sweater because I think that looks nice with my eyes. And everyone says the best things about Sazon sweaters, but I have never dipped my toe into the Cezanne waters because one, I was, like, really unsure if they would fit me. I think a 3x on their size chart is equivalent to a 14. So I was like, we're gonna be. We're gonna be pushing the limits here. But, like, they're kind of oversized. I was like, it could work. It could work. Yeah.

[B]

I think of all of their clothing as quite boxy in their cup.

[A]

So, yeah, it's a little more generous. So I was like, okay, I will try this. Because everyone says they're so great. They have gorgeous colors. So, like, two or three weeks ago, I ordered two sweaters, and then they didn't ship. They didn't ship. They didn't ship. And I was like, all right, this is getting down to the wire. And I was like, I got to order another order, and I'm going to do rush shipping, so it's going to get here earlier, which was dumb. I don't know why I thought that was gonna be the case. But so then I ordered four more sweaters. Now, these sweaters are not.

[B]

No, they're not cheap.

[A]

Cheap. They are very expensive. And of course, my plan was, like, I would keep one and return the rest.

[B]

It's also the end of sweater season, theoretically, we hope.

[A]

Well, you never know with hair. It was just snowing this morning, actually. So at one point, I had, like, just seven sweaters coming from France over to my door. Of course, none of them got here before the day of the shoot yesterday. But while we were shooting, literally, we were on our front porch taking photos, and the box arrives, and the photographer was like, you know, don't even try them on, because you will tempt yourself and you will keep them. And I was like, you're probably correct, but I'm gonna do it. And wouldn't you know, I'm obsessed with them. No, no. It was right at the end, so I kind of wish I did. Cause I really love them. I'm in a predicament now because not only do I have two very expensive sweaters that I love, but I have like four more coming that I'm afraid I'm also going to love.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

And I have to.

[B]

You have to make some hard decisions.

[A]

I have to demonstrate remarkable self control. And I have to choose one. Maybe I can afford to keep one.

[B]

I think I will be finding myself in a similar predicament. I'm feeling very shoppy as we turn into spring. And I've been ordering a bunch of stuff, and so far I've liked almost nothing. And so it's all gone back, which means that I've now only gotten more aggressive in how much I'm ordering. And so I placed this order on Bowden, which I cannot in good faith tell you how much the order was for.

[A]

Bowden is not cheap.

[B]

And I'm like, I happen to like all of this.

[A]

I know. It's a dangerous game we play.

[B]

I know.

[A]

It's so true. Yeah, I've gotten really wild and loose with the ordering since I started trying to find, like, pieces for. For the shoot, which I really just wore a black blouse, jeans, and a skirt and a sweater. But for some reason I was like, they must be the perfect items when really I wanted them to be like, background. Like, I didn't want you to look in the photo and be like, wow.

[B]

That photo gets used so many places if you do events with other authors or, you know, it gets pulled for press, et cetera. So I get it.

[A]

Yeah, I think it all worked out. I. I really like the options we landed on. But anyway, I really played with fire with Cezanne, but. But if you happen to be a size 16 and you're like, will I fit into Cezanne sweaters? Yes. I got multiple sizes and it worked. So that's kind of a win. But also dangerous.

[B]

This is making me want to go to. There's a Cezanne store in Nolita.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Yeah. And I. I mean, I. I can only imagine what bed limit is on a weekend, but this is making me want to take a field trip there next week. Because I have my trip to Paris and Bordeaux coming up, so I feel like I want to have, you know, vacation. Shopping always comes for me, but, you know, it's a city vacation. So I feel like it's also things I would wear in my day to day life. So I feel like sometime between now and then, I'm gonna have to take a Field trip to Cezanne.

[A]

I put on the sweaters and I was like, oh, I get it. This is some soft material. It's really nice. Well, tell me your low. I kind of wrapped up my high and low and won.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. So we've moved our podcast recording time to Friday morning because I felt like my brain was too on in the afternoon and I was talking too fast. My verbal tics of saying like were just out of control in the afternoon. I was too caffeinated. So we moved into the morning by my own request. In the past few weeks, I've had plans every Thursday night and I've been, let's say, lightly hungover on Friday mornings. And so I was so proud of myself. Not proud of myself, but I was like feeling very smug that last night I had no plans. I got in bed fairly early for me around 10:30. I was like, I'm gonna be so bright eyed and bushy tailed for the podcast. And then I woke up at midnight from a nightmare. And I don't remember what it was and I don't frequently have nightmares, but I just had this gripped feeling of panic. And I. I wasn't sleepwalking, but I jumped out of bed and I went to my living room and like to the window and I was just. I don't know. And it was actually really hard to calm myself because it was like a non specific form of panic where, you know, sometimes when you have a nightmare and you're like, that's never gonna happen. That's like a ridiculous scenario. I'm not gonna get, say, abducted by aliens or something, but this was just a feeling rather than a scenario. And oh my gosh, I haven't had a nightmare like this in a long time.

[A]

That sounds terrible. I'm so sorry. Thank you. And it's interesting because I find, I don't know if this is your experience, that when I drink, I tend to have weirder dreams. So you were like. That wasn't affected by anything. You were like, just, I'm gonna go to sleep and have a great night of sleep. And it ended up being worse.

[B]

I'm not a big dreamer either way. I don't frequently remember my dreams.

[A]

Mm. Okay. I do.

[B]

Hmm.

[A]

But I rarely have nightmares like that. But Jake has night terrors, so I have heard about. Yeah. Where like sleep paralysis.

[B]

Oh my gosh.

[A]

Or you can't move.

[B]

No, that would. Oh my gosh, that sounds terrible.

[A]

It's terrible. I wake up and I just hear this sound from Jake. Oh, he just makes that sound and he's. I'm like another one, but I feel bad for him. It sucks. I'm sorry. That's rough. So did you end up going back to sleep or.

[B]

Yeah, I did. I had to put the lights on for a while. I usually sleep with a sleep mask on and I was like, I can't cover my eyes. I was too scared. And I eventually calmed myself down and I did go back to sleep, but it was intense for a bit there.

[A]

Dreaming is strange when you think about the concept of it. It's just. It's the strangest thing that we just close our eyes, go to sleep, and our brains create worlds.

[B]

Yeah. Well, I'm excited to get into these top threes. Not to be confused with three things, but let's take a quick ad break first. So we've already covered that. We are getting into spring and I'm feeling very shoppy. And when I think of Quince, my mind automatically goes to their famous 100% Mongolian cashmere sweaters that start at just $50. And I'm a huge fan of them. But I was browsing their new arrivals the other day and they have such a wide range of luxury essentials. I'm talking linen shorts, really well cut trousers, and even a great selection of dresses.

[A]

But what makes Quince stand out even more is their affordable price points. Everything is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands, which Quince makes possible by partnering directly with top factories and cutting out the middleman so they can pass the savings on to us. I'm also a huge fan of their accessories. I bought a pair of sunglasses from them that I absolutely loved. They're like the kind of 90s style round green, like spring green, but not bright. It's kind of more neutral green sunglasses. And I just, I loved them so much and I lost them for like a month. But I discovered them yesterday at the bottom of a bag with three other pairs of sunglasses. But they are by far the best quality. Like just holding them all in my hands. Those sunglasses feel designer.

[B]

Yeah. I have a belt from them and the leather and hardware quality are both really great. It's become my go to belt. And they also have some really cute handbags that I was eyeing. So if you're looking to do a wardrobe refresh this spring and you don't want to break the bank, give yourself the luxury you deserve with quince. Go to quince.combop for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N C E.combop to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.combop okay, so as we said, we got almost all of these prompts. I think I made up one or two from the Facebook group, from the listeners of things they wanted to hear. Top threes of. We used to do this all the time when Grace was a co host. We used to do little games. Like we did a what would you rather a Fuck, Marry, kill episode. I don't know. I love when you bring games to three things. This is just a fun one.

[A]

Very fun. I'm getting excited.

[B]

So the first category is food. And by and far the most popular prompt that people wanted to know our top three of was Trader Joe's products. Are you a big Trader Joe shopper?

[A]

I would go occasionally when we lived in Philly, maybe once a month. I have not been in years now. And I couldn't for the life of me for this one. Think, think of things that I got there consistently. I was more just like I was getting pantry staples from Trader Joe's.

[B]

Well, we've discussed this, and this was the first thing you said when you got on the call. You were like, by the way, I don't have a top three for Trader Joe's.

[A]

I felt like I disappointed people. This was the most requested one, and I could give them nothing.

[B]

Well, I think we can do your top three from Costco where you're a regular shopper.

[A]

Yes, absolutely.

[B]

Okay, hit me with your top three Costco things.

[A]

This is going to be controversial. So we're starting from a spicy place. God, I love a Costco rotisserie chicken. Oh, yeah, I know.

[B]

That's not controversial.

[A]

They are pumped full of things that they should not be pumped full of, but it is just. It's the best. They're so affordable. I buy, like when we go to Costco once a month, I buy two or three of them. I shred them all when I get home, and then I just freeze them in individual servings and use them in soups and chilies. It's the best thing ever. It feels like it makes my life easier. They're delicious.

[B]

You know, as a business strategy, it's a loss leader for them.

[A]

Really. Yeah.

[B]

So they underprice them on purpose. They have either no margin or negative margin on them. And they price them so low to get people to come to Costco. And then once you're there, you. You do other shopping there.

[A]

And God, it works. I drive 90 minutes. Wow. I buy those chickens. That's Very fascinating. I had no idea. Okay. Second thing also may be controversial. I love Costco pizza. I love. When I get to the end of my Costco shop, I'm overstimulated. I'm in the cafe, from the cafe. I'm deeply overstimulated. I am ready to get out of there. I'm starving. I go to the Costco whatever cafe and I get my. Unfortunately, they only have Diet Pepsi, which is a loss, I will say. But I get my slice of pizza, which is like the size of basically three slices of pizza. And it's really the highlight of my day. I've just spent like $9,000, and I get to buy a slice of pizza for $1. I like it. And which weird is that I'm kind of picky about pizza. Like, I don't like a heavy cheese, but it does have a lot of cheese. But I find it's balanced because it's also heavy dough.

[B]

So it's heavy.

[A]

Heavy. It's heavy. It's heavy in every sense of the word, and I love it. My third Costco pick. Okay, this is a new one, actually. So have you seen this bulldog ramen?

[B]

Is that the protein ramen?

[A]

No, it's the carbonara flavor.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

So I kept getting videos, for some reason when I would download Facebook and look at them, of this woman making this specific type of ramen. I think it might be Korean, but I could be wrong. This carbonara flavor, I was like, ramen carbonara. I'm very confused by it. But they had a pack at Costco, and I was like, I'm gonna try that out. So we got is so delicious. I don't really like really spicy things, and it is quite spicy, but it is so good, especially if you make it in a saute pan instead of, like, with the broth, because it's, like, cheesy. It's just great. It's delicious.

[B]

Interesting.

[A]

I'm sure it's like, enough to make the top three to actually kill someone.

[B]

Sure. As all packaged ramen is.

[A]

It's so good. Oh, also, honorable mention, built bars. Have you ever had a built bar?

[B]

No.

[A]

I used to make fun of them because they were the only advertiser on this football podcast they used to listen to. Long story. And it was like, built bars, so delicious. Blah, blah, blah. And they have them at Costco and they taste the marshmallow. I don't know what they're called. They're chewy built bars. They have, like, hard ones and chewy ones, and they're so Good. They taste like candy bars to me. And they're like 20 grams of protein. You know, nice little snack. It tastes like a candy bar.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

The brownie flavor is the best. Okay, I've talked too long now. Hit us with what the people actually wanted, which is Trader Joe's products.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Because you do go to Trader Joe's, right?

[B]

I probably go quarterly. I like their frozen food section, but I prefer to shop for everything else not at Trader Joe's. So my number one thing I think is unexpected. It's their taco seasoning. I think Trader Joe's makes the best premixed taco seasoning. The balance, the heat level, it's so good. I use it to season chicken thighs that I make in the air fryer. And, like, I could make my own taco seasoning, obviously, but I think that their ratio is great. I actually realized this week that I was out of it and I need to go get more and I'm upset.

[A]

They do have great seasonings. I remember I really liked their elote seasoning. And also, of course, how can we forget everything but the bagel Classic.

[B]

I'm deeply allergic to that, but happy for you.

[A]

Okay, what's your next one?

[B]

Okay, my next one is. They are. Hold the cones. It's their mini ice cream cone things. It's like a two bite ice cream cone ice cream, and then it's dipped in chocolate. My favorite is the coffee chocolate ones. I will take the chocolate chip, the vanilla chocolate chip chocolate ones if I need to. They do have peppermint ones at the holidays. I think these are so good. I prefer an ice cream cone to an ice cream cup, but I'm never gonna get cones and make myself an ice cream cone at home. So this is just so satisfying.

[A]

Yeah, that's not something that you do like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And by you, I mean like, anyone. Humans.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Can you imagine being like, do you want a waffle cone? I have them in the pantry. I mean, I love that if someone's living that life, but yeah, it's more of a treat, so it's a good point. I have tried the pumpkin spice version of these. Ooh, that's good.

[B]

For my third one, I could have gone in a lot of different directions, but I followed my heart and I'm going with their pastry pups, which are basically pigs in a blanket. It is a choice I cannot defend because I find hot dogs disgusting. But if you make them miniature and wrap them in pastry dough, I'm all about it.

[A]

People love the pastry options at Trader Joe's.

[B]

These pixel blanket are so good. Whenever.

[A]

Sounds delicious.

[B]

I have a setting where I'm serving appetizers. I mean, not always because it doesn't always make sense to the menu, but like, these are a go to. These are a crowd pleaser.

[A]

Delicious.

[B]

All right, we gotta pick up the pace here.

[A]

I know. There's so much to talk about. I'll go fast. Okay, I'll try.

[B]

I'm very curious about this one. Fast food orders.

[A]

Okay, I noticed that you. Are we doing specific orders or just where we like to go?

[B]

No, specific orders. I just wrote in here a shorthand.

[A]

To myself, all right, McDonald's. I go to McDonald's more than I would like to admit publicly. But I have perfected my order and that's why I go, okay, large Diet Coke, obviously, two cheeseburgers.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

The perfect balance of being completely satisfying, but you don't feel like you've just like, you don't feel overly full afterwards. It's just the perfect little balance. I'm going to amend this. And I didn't realize you could, like, ask for substitutions or more. So I'm going to start doing two cheeseburgers, extra pickles. Oh, yeah, that's going to be my. My go to. I went yesterday and they did not give me the right order. And it was honestly devastating. Okay, next. Auntie Anne's kind of a. Oh, a different one, but I love an anti. An A road trip. There's weirdly a lot in the Northeast, like at rest stops. Yeah, the pretzel bites.

[B]

Yeah, the pretzel bites for sure.

[A]

Cheese sauce on the side.

[B]

Oh, I like mine with mustard.

[A]

Oh, interesting. I don't typically prefer cheese sauce, but for some reason theirs in the little cup that looks like it could last through a nuclear blast.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

I love it. I love a dip too. Like, and it's.

[B]

That's the next category.

[A]

I. I know it's. It's so much to discuss. And then finally, Starbucks. I tried to go with the thing that I order the most often, which next to going to McDonald's, it's probably Starbucks if I'm at an airport or something.

[B]

Oh, yeah, and you have your very specific, fancy Starbucks order.

[A]

I don't get that that much actually. Jake gets that more now, but the shaken oat milk espresso thing. Yeah, Delicious. These days I. I usually do just iced coffee with a splash of cream and then maybe like a little bit of vanilla or hazelnut or something.

[B]

Are you gonna start?

[A]

That's usually my drink order. If it's in the morning, I pretty much always get the spinach feta wrap.

[B]

Mm. I like their egg bites there. And I actually like the vegetarian. The egg white vegetarian ones more than the whole egg ones with bacon and cheese.

[A]

Oh, yeah, the red pepper ones. They're good. Very, very good. Okay, what about you?

[B]

Okay, so for me, this is a little bit in fantasy land. So my number one is McDonald's, and they discontinued the chicken selects, which were the chicken tenders. And so that's what I want. I want the chicken selects.

[A]

Did I know this about you? That you're, like, out here fighting for the chicken selects?

[B]

I'm not fighting. I'm just quietly disappointed.

[A]

Okay. It's weird that they would bring back the McRib but not the chicken tenders, which I feel is an American staple, But all right, McDonald's.

[B]

I think they're just so superior to the nuggets, which I also like. But I want the chicken selects with a buffalo sauce and a medium fry, also to dip in the buffalo sauce. And then I'm not really a soda person, so I'm probably disappointingly getting a bottle of water. The only soda that I feel like I like is a. I love a root beer, but McDonald's doesn't have it. So that's my number one. My number two, I don't love a McDonald's burger. Like, I would eat it, but it's not. It doesn't light my fire. I do love a Shake Shack burger.

[A]

So it's definitely a different burger experience. Yeah, it's a different category of burger. I would argue Shake Shack is so good.

[B]

Yeah. So I'm going shack burger with cheese. Add the hot cherry peppers is an essential for me. Add pickles and add sliced onion.

[A]

Yum.

[B]

And then fries. And I think their fries are fine. Like, I strongly prefer McDonald's fries, but I'm not going to two different places. And I'm also not. Not getting fries, so.

[A]

Yeah, of course.

[B]

Also, this is being really bad for me because I am now starving and want fast food.

[A]

Yeah. I haven't eaten it.

[B]

It's 10:17 in the morning, and I'm like, ooh, a Shack burger sounds great. Okay. And then the last one, Dunkin. I get a medium hazelnut iced coffee with cream and one sugar. And then I feel like my most common order is the sausage, egg, and cheese wake up wrap.

[A]

Oh, me too. That's the only thing I get there to eat.

[B]

And then sometimes maybe add on hash browns.

[A]

Very nice.

[B]

I like that they're the little, like.

[A]

Discs poppable yeah, the little. No, yeah, discs. That's the right word.

[B]

Yeah. I remember after my friend Elizabeth's wedding, I went to. Everyone was so hungover and I went to a Dunkin Donuts and I was like, I need 15 orders of hash browns. I brought them over to the house everyone was staying in, and I was like, here, here. Like, this is what we need.

[A]

But like, I'm sure they were so thankful.

[B]

Well, they were, but it was like such a strange thing because it's the way they cook them in the little oven. Like, it was just like it was a real ordeal to get so many orders of them.

[A]

I've really never been to a Dunkin that isn't in a state of complete and total chaos. Like, in terms of the employees, do.

[B]

You want to know what I feel like the most efficient Dunkin is?

[A]

Sure.

[B]

The one at Logan Airport is just like a study efficiency.

[A]

I've. I've been to that one actually. And I got like the largest coffee of my life. And it was.

[B]

They're moving through.

[A]

Yes, they are.

[B]

All right, well, as promised. Dips.

[A]

I love this one. Tell me your. Your favorite dips.

[B]

No question. Hands down. Number one is chili salsa. The fact that it's not sold in grocery stores is a travesty of the highest order.

[A]

It's kind of hard to believe.

[B]

So hard to believe. Second, hillstone spinach and artichoke dip. An all time elite dip.

[A]

Delicious.

[B]

Third, any place that has a spicy feta dip. Mic drop.

[A]

I've. I don't know if I've ever had a spicy feta dip.

[B]

Oh, you're missing out. Next time you.

[A]

I mean, I. I'm putting it. I'm putting it together in my mind, but it sounds good.

[B]

What are your top tips?

[A]

My first dip that I. They've brought today for you is hell of a good onion dip. French onion dip.

[B]

I was frankly sad I didn't have room for a fourth dip. So I can include this.

[A]

Oh, my God. Like, it is just. You give me a package of the wavy lays.

[B]

Yeah, it's got to be ruffles. It's got to be a.

[A]

A curve. Like a thick boy. Yeah, like a textured chip. And this dip, like heaven. It will intestinally will wreck me. Doesn't matter. Just delicious.

[B]

Worth it.

[A]

So good. Classic. Basic, cheap. Great. The next one, my mom makes this spinach dip, which I think is just like sour cream and then like one of those spice packets, but for holiday, she makes it in a, like a giant rye bread bowl.

[B]

Ooh.

[A]

And she has to, like, order the bread, especially from the grocery store. But then you. You pull out the pieces of the bread from the. The center of the loaf, and then you dip that in the dip. And it is among my favorite things.

[B]

Kim's like the bread. Stop it.

[A]

Crusty but soft. It's so good. Yeah. I don't eat enough rye bread. Honestly, it's just delicious. And then finally, this was kind of a wild card for me. I chose the Chili's Ranch, which is just like a liquidy.

[B]

It's so thin.

[A]

Liquidy.

[B]

Ranch dips are just like the thinnest version of dip in a way that is. Shouldn't work, but does.

[A]

It's less a dip and more of just a liquid. You are dipping the chip. Well. You are just, like, soaking it.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

It's not really picking up anything, but yeah, I love it.

[B]

I'm honestly thrilled by the representation Chili's is getting in this episode already.

[A]

Yeah. It's showing up in a big way.

[B]

All right, please, plain snacks. I feel like this was one of the ones from your prompt, perhaps.

[A]

Yes. Was it maybe my go to plain snacks if I'm going to get a plain snack? I think I've talked about this before. I'm a huge Gardetto snack mix fan. The only problem is that it's so salty that it makes me feel like I'm going to die afterwards. So I have to be sort of sparing with the Gardettos. Next is Cheez. Its. I. I love a Cheez. It always have, always will.

[B]

Not a cheese. I'll see the white cheddar.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah. I don't love a fake cheese. A fake cheddar cheese thing.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I do like a Parmesan goldfish fair.

[A]

I'm not that big into goldfish, actually. Well, I find them to be spicy. Does that make sense?

[B]

No.

[A]

They have a kick to them. I'm telling you, there is paprika in that mix.

[B]

That is the whitest thing I've ever heard.

[A]

Well, I am very white, but I. They're just. It's not like, spicy. Like, I'm sweating like I'm on hot ones. Eating a goldfish, it's just like, they have a kick to them that, like, I don't want to eat.

[B]

Children eat them.

[A]

That's a good point. There is a spice in. I'm going to look up the ingredients, and there is a spice in there. And then finally, Peanut M&Ms, which are both sweet and savory. What are yours?

[B]

Okay, so newly, as of the past year, maybe I find myself gravitating towards mini pretzels. I just. You don't get many pretzels in adult life. Or I don't. I guess I just don't buy pretzels.

[A]

They're out there.

[B]

They're out there, they're out there. I could have pretzels in adult life with something about the airport. I'm like, yeah, let me get a bag of rolled golds. Like, yum.

[A]

I. I love a pretzel, too.

[B]

So good. My next one's Twizzlers. I could do some real damage to a package of Twizzlers on a plane. And then the last one, which I feel like is less available than it should be because this is always the thing that I look for if I'm hungry at a Hudson News is, you know, those peanut butter sandwich crackers. I feel like usually they have the cheese ones, but not the peanut butter ones. And maybe it's because of an allergy thing of, you know, not wanting people to bring peanut butter on a plane, but I love those things.

[A]

Not the cheese with the peanut butter. No, Just the peanut butter option, which I also like. I don't know who was like, let's put these together.

[B]

Oh, I've never had those.

[A]

Congratulations. It works. Solid choices all around.

[B]

Thank you. New category.

[A]

Books. Books. I'm in a weird mood now that I'm starving.

[B]

I know. Do you remember when I was like, we had to move recording because I'm too punchy in the afternoon and like, here we are.

[A]

Okay, romance. What are your favorite romance books?

[B]

Olivia? This was so hard to pick the top three. It wasn't hard to pick the top one, but it was really hard to figure out two and three. Okay. My number one, obviously, the Idea of youf by Robin Lee. No one is surprised. I'm not surprised. It's that my second one, I think it's gotta be the Royal we by Heather Cox and Jessica Morgan. I've read this multiple times. It's a go to recommendation for me. I love the Falling in Love section of that. Yeah, I think it's that third is where I struggled. I felt like I needed to have an Emily Henry because that is my current gold standard of romance in our present day. And I needed to represent that. So my favorite Emily Henry is People We Meet on Vacation, which is a controversial choice because I know it's a lot of people's least favorite, but it's my favorite.

[A]

I like a controversial choice. Keeps things interesting.

[B]

What about you? This is not your genre, but I'm curious to hear your top three romances.

[A]

Yeah, I think all. I think all three of the ones I chose, especially the last one, are like, arguably not romance, but they do have a heavy romance plotline. So the first one is definitely heavy romance. It's Talking at night by Clara D'Averley. You know you recommended it. I read it and was deeply obsessed with it. You loved it too? I think I loved it and just adore it. I adore it. I think about it all the time. The next one is Shark Heart by Emily Hayback. I've talked about this one a bunch too. Both the first two thing they have in common is you want to cry a lot. These are for you. Loved it. And then finally this. This one, I would say actually it's more of like suspense than it really is romance. And also there is a major infidelity plot line which I know people struggle with. But ultimately there is a love story at the heart of it, and that is Paper palace, which I have right here on my desk. I think about it constantly. One of my favorite books I've ever read. Lovely. So I think those are my top three. Love.

[B]

All right, into your specialty. Hit me with your top three thrillers.

[A]

I want to make a blanket statement. And with all of these, these are just the top three that came to mind. I think it's a hard ask.

[B]

There were certain categories here, not ones we've gotten to yet that I'm like, I don't know if I stand by this. And I feel like I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night with a different kind of panic that I'm like, oh my God, I have, I have snubbed this thing that is an all time favorite that I forgot about.

[A]

Yeah, that's inevitable. I think with these, like, definitely by the time this episode comes out, I'm gonna be like remembering a bunch of stuff.

[B]

But you're gonna have to like release a notes app statement. You're gonna be like, I'm so sorry to xyz.

[A]

I'm absolutely certain I forgot a lot. But for thrillers, I would say the three that came to mind were the Push by Ashley Audrain, Night Watching by Tracy Sierra and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

[B]

In that order?

[A]

I don't know about in that order.

[B]

Oh, I was surprised Gone Girl wasn't first and I didn't know if this was like a ranked top top three.

[A]

No, no. I don't think any of these are really ranked for me, actually, because I struggle enough just to pick three so especially like when we get to another category, which is books to recommend. That one threw me through a big loop. But tell me your favorite thrillers or three of them.

[B]

This is not my category so I struggled to come up with a third. So, okay, controversial or not controversial. But some people love it, some people hate it. Verity by Colleen Hoover was on the edge of my seat. Was so seated for this. Loved it. Cannot wait for the movie adaptation.

[A]

I haven't read it in many years, which I would actually really love to reread and see how I feel about it now. But I also loved it.

[B]

Same. Maybe when the movie comes out we will do like a reread episode and watch the movie. That would be fun.

[A]

Yes, I would love that.

[B]

Okay. Second First Fly Wins by Ashley Elston from last year. This is like my platonic ideal of a not scary thriller. Like tons of twists and turns. It's a con woman thriller. I was never scared for myself, but was deeply invested in the book. Loved. Third, I read this in 2019. I haven't revisited it, but I remember having the most obsessive reading experience with this book called all these Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klayfoff. And I looked on Goodreads and it only has like 8,000 and something ratings, so I don't think it was a super huge book. But this is a boarding school, secret society YA thriller that I love.

[A]

I've never heard of this.

[B]

Well, I don't know that YA thrillers is your genre, but 2019 to me recommended this so highly and I, I remember I have very positive memories of it.

[A]

This next category I'm really excited about, but as I said, a difficult one. Well, actually the next two are both difficult, but okay. What are three books that you think deserve more hype?

[B]

Okay, my number one answer to this Always and Forever is the People We Keep by Allison Lin. It is also the book that made me cry the most. It is about a girl who is her mom dies, she's abandoned by her father, takes off on the road to find a new life, and it's basically about kind of all the people that have a positive impact on her life. Although it's also crushingly sad. The second one is Musical Chairs by Amy Popel. Again, not that many ratings on Goodreads. I loved this. It's about a mother of adult children who are in college and she lives in the city during the year and then has a country house in Connecticut that she goes to for the summer and both of her children are having crises and are there for different reasons. And she's trying to deal with her own dating life. And she also has a very difficult father who lives near there. Like it was sort of a Gilmore Girls Y dynamic of like regular woman, the Lorelai type character. And then like very difficult rich parents. But I loved this. And then I struggled with my third. I tried not to do runner ups in these, but I do have a runner up here. So I'm gonna go with A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood, which I recommended this so much in. I think I probably read it in like 2019. It's a YA book. It's historical, which is not my jam. It's set in, I think, like the 1920s in Cornwall in the UK. And it's a girl who's from this like, huge family and she's kind of like lost in the shuffle. And these rich neighbors who are kind of like young adults, like 1920 come to town to the big house on an island, and they start throwing all these Gatsby esque parties. So it's kind of like a ya, not Gatsby, but in that realm. And I loved it. My runner up, which I didn't end up choosing because I feel like Emily Henry has so much hype overall. But Emily Henry wrote YA before she wrote contemporary romances. And the last one she did before she wrote Beach Read is a book called A Million Junes. That is so beautiful. It is so fantastic. It's a speculative YA that has to do kind of with ghosts. And it's a love story. Oh, my God, it's so beautiful. And I'm so insulted on her behalf when people talk about Beach Read as her first book, because A Million Junes came before that. And it's so good.

[A]

I've heard you talk about this one a lot and it seems we have a.

[B]

We have a podcast book club on it too, from back in the day.

[A]

Oh, very cool.

[B]

Yeah. What about you? What are your underhyped books?

[A]

Books? Okay, so my first one is We All Want Impossible Things by Kathryn Newman. And I think this book did very well, but it's not as popular, I think, as her second book, which is Sandwich, which came out this past summer. And I saw everywhere for months and months and months on end. Also great. But I just have such a soft spot in my soul for We All Want Impossible Things. If you liked Sandwich, you absolutely have to read We All Want Impossible Things.

[B]

Another big pirate.

[A]

Yeah. I love to cry. I love to be scared and I love to cry. Just give me all the feelings. The next one is the Book Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash, which I read a couple months ago. This is a novel set in like the satanic panic of the 80s and I thought it was so good. If you're looking for something that is true crime without being thrillery, like it's more of a character study. I just loved it so much. I think it deserves all the buzz in the world. Definitely. Check this one out. One of my favorites of the year. And then finally I also struggled with the third one, but I landed on Beauty Land by Marie Helene Bertino, which is this really fun, short, literary novel about a girl who thinks she's an alien or is an alien. Question mark would not have been what.

[B]

I expected from the title.

[A]

Yes, it is really different and quite literary. But you know, I recommended it because it reminds me a lot of Shark Heart. In some ways it's like a little weird, but I think it would work for a lot of people. And I get a lot of messages from people who read Shark Heart and were like, I didn't know if I was going to like this, but I loved it. So I think if you like Shark Heart, check out Beauty Land. It has a similar like just heartwarming, life affirming kind of vibe. It's just really interesting and great and I recommend it.

[B]

Okay, on that topic, what are your top three books to recommend?

[A]

Oh, this is such a hard one.

[B]

Oh, I think this is an easy one.

[A]

It was hard for me except for the. And the one we have in common, which is Project Hail Mary. I was actually getting my hair done for my portrait whatever author portraits yesterday. And the hairdresser was like, my friend just recommended this book to me. It's called like Hail Mary something. And I was like, stop everything, you need to read it right now. I was like, you need to read it right now and you need to keep reading until you get to Rocky and then you won't want to stop reading. It's just, it's such, you know, everyone knows how I feel about Project Hail Mary and the movie comes out next year. Can you believe it?

[B]

Finally.

[A]

I've been waiting five years for this.

[B]

Finally. I feel like this is my go to recommendation for any man. And B, if anyone is asking for an audiobook recommendation for a road trip that they're taking with other people, like, I feel like it has strong crowd pleaser energy.

[A]

Yes, yes it does. And speaking of crowd pleaser, that is why I always recommend the Wedding people or I have since it came out. It's just like across the board crowd pleaser. I can think of very few readers who would not enjoy this book and it's just wonderful. So the wedding people and then finally this book got a lot of hype, but I actually think it deserves more. The more and more I think about it. And I think the Husbands is such a great book to recommend because it's a little weird, it's a little funny, there's a mystery, it's speculative without feeling sci fi ish. Like I think it is just a really. It's like it's not necessarily a crowd pleaser but it has a little something for everyone and I just adore it the more and more I think about it. And I loved it at the time, but I feel like it gets better with time even. So that's a good choice. That's. That's my trio. What are your three?

[B]

The idea of you. If anyone has never read a romance before and wants to, I mean it kind of sets a high bar. But the most sucked in reading experience I've ever had. Project Hail Mary as we already covered. And then the Night Circus is just the most beautiful fantasy ish book I've ever read. But I'm always chasing that feeling of being so awed by the beauty of an alternate world someone has created in their mind.

[A]

Yeah, it's very beautiful.

[B]

This one comes up a lot. I feel like people are always asking favorite book to film adaptations.

[A]

It's a tough one. Do you want to start?

[B]

I mean, there's some bad ones. Yeah, I can start. I think my number one is Crazy Rich Asians. I think they did such a great job with that. I'm so disappointed. I don't know if they're parked and if they're ever going to come out. But the sequels to it because there are three books I want the other movies.

[A]

I totally forgot about that. But you're right.

[B]

So crazy rich Asians. Also the Devil Wears Prada, which I think of as a perfect movie in and of itself and I almost forget is based on a book. And I read and loved the book too, but the Devil Wears Prada for sure. And then the Summer I Turned Pretty. Season one. Oh wow. Was I ready to find myself a beach house and break up a family.

[A]

I enjoyed this too. I've never read the books, but I enjoyed that.

[B]

I thought the books were only okay, but I was feral for the show.

[A]

It's still going on, isn't it? Or is it still.

[B]

Yeah, I thought season two kind of got worse for me.

[A]

Oh, okay. Okay. That happens.

[B]

What about you?

[A]

What are you going with first and always Gone Girl. I don't need to explain further. Second the Martian. I read the book. I've listened to the book, enjoyed it. The movie I think is even better. I can't help but you love an Andy Weir book. I do. I do. It makes me very excited for Project Hail Mary, thinking about how good the Martian was as a movie. It's funny, it's sci fi, it's interesting. Survival. Loved it. And then I had to include Pride and Prejudice 2005 version. Just Chef's Kiss. I love it.

[B]

All right, we have two more categories. I think this is just going to be a long one and we're going to embrace that. People seem to like it. I always get nervous when it's a long one, but we're leaning in.

[A]

Settle in, settle in.

[B]

Get some gardettos. Let's take an ad break. So I love my current apartment, but I've been living here for almost six years and I hope to continue living here for many more. So I've been thinking about making some strategic upgrades and I just updated my couch pillows and I also realized that I needed a mirror in my living area. This is so cringe. But I wanted one so I'd have better lighting and placement to take mirror selfies for Instagram and I wasn't quite sure what I was looking for because it was going into an already fully decorated room. So I popped onto Wayfair and I instantly found hundreds, thousands of options that I could browse and see what fit my budget and my existing decor. And I'm so happy to report that they did not let me down. I got this very cute curved gold mirror that looks great in the room. I think it was $105. So I feel really good about the price and shipped perfectly.

[A]

Wayfair's huge selection of home items has everything you need no matter what you're looking to upgrade this spring. Whether it is new patio furniture or some shelving to help you get organized, or maybe kitchen essentials for that party that you're planning on hosting, or a new rug. And their incredible filters on the website help you narrow down to exactly what you want to see. If you're shopping in a specific price range or you have really specific measurements that you're looking for, or a specific color. Like basically you can get as narrowed down as you want to get on Wayfair, which is so helpful.

[B]

Plus they have free and easy delivery even on the big stuff. They'll even help you set it up. Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R.com Wayfair. Every style, every home. Okay, next category. Pop culture. I'm very excited to hear this. Tell me your top three newsletters to receive, because we are both deeply obsessed with newsletters right now.

[A]

Yeah, I've let myself go wild. I pay to subscribe to probably, like, 30 substacks. I'm just like, take my money, take my money. I obviously love yours. I love Graces. I love so many people's. And I'm really afraid that I'm going to.

[B]

Yeah, we have to, like, blanket someone I want to talk about. We're not flattering each other here. We're like, we're going outside the pod server circle. I love your newsletter, but I wanted to. I picked some others that, like, maybe people haven't heard of.

[A]

Yeah, actually, all three of the people I'm gonna talk about have been on the podcast, but.

[B]

Okay, so you're not.

[A]

I'm. I'm sorry. I was not very creative with this one. But I am honest, and there are so many that I love. Like, I could just keep going. I should just open up my substack and just, like, list them.

[B]

But you should do a post on this. I would really love to know what are the 30 that you subscribe to? You pay to subscribe to.

[A]

Really? Maybe I will. Okay, well, the three that I especially love are. But I love all of them. Sorry, I feel like I need to caveat all of it because I'm gonna offend someone. But I love the composite by Jordan Bojejian, who was on our last book preview episode. She writes so much about high fashion and trends and stuff, which is just great. Also a lot about diet culture and bodies and feminism and the intersection of all of it, which is just right up my alley. Love her book recommendations as well. And just has great taste. Also. Always and forever, Leslie Stevens fangirl number one. Slightly embarrassing. I love Morning Person by Leslie Stevens so much. And then Literary Leanings by Michelle Martin. Right now, Michelle is doing this thing on Notes where she just posts about, like, a small joy from each day in March. And, like, it just.

[B]

That's so encoded.

[A]

I'm so basic. Like, it takes so little to please me. But no, she's really, really thoughtful and she takes incredible photos as well. She's a photographer, so I just. And of course, lots and lots of book recs. So love it. I don't actually subscribe to any of the three that you have listed here? Oh, no, I do. I subscribe to a scene on. But anyway, tell us about your three.

[B]

Okay, first one, you said it. As seen on by Achuko Akpovobo. I look forward to this. My inbox on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. It's kind of a news curation, but, like, the news is startup, some pop culture, business news, et cetera. I just think she does the best job with curation and commentary. And sometimes she'll throw in an essay. Like she had an essay about Beyonce at some point last year that was so spot on obsessed with her. She's also a big reader, which I really appreciate, like, of books. Second one is Gossip Time by Allie Jones. And this is a Friday afternoon newsletter that just feels like such a treat to wind down my week, it's about celebrity gossip. So she'll, you know, deep dive into whatever the celebrity gossip is du jour. It has, like a very snarky tone. And then she also has a column called Stuff by Hilary Duff where every week she just covers whatever Hilary Duff is doing. And as we know from our younger episode, I am a huge Hilary Duff fan, so I really appreciate this. It's like a lighter one. And then my third one is a newer newsletter I think Maybe started last Q4, and it's called Galley Brag by Ezra Kapoor. And Ezra is an editor at HarperCollins, I believe. And these are interviews, and they're very long interviews with different people in publishing. So sometimes it's a marketer, sometimes it's an author, sometimes it's a book talker. But I find the inside baseball of these conversations. And because the interviews are so robust, like, they really get into it and I love it. Tell me about your formative celebrity crushes. This was originally just formative crushes. And I was. I mean, I will tell you about them, but I don't know that they'll be interesting to you. I mean, my first pharmacist was Andrew Castiglion, who in third grade told everyone that his house was haunted. And like, that did it for me.

[A]

He really had something to offer. I like that you were like, I don't just care about looks like I want.

[B]

I want you to have a haunted house. Yeah.

[A]

Since we're going there. My most formative. Have I talked about Dan Bailey on this podcast?

[B]

Not by name, probably.

[A]

Probably. Dan Bailey was a close friend of one of my cousins who, my God, I think I was actually more in love with Dan Bailey than I was with any celebrity at Any given time. Like, he was just like the pinnacle of male perfection to me at 14 or whatever it was that I met.

[B]

Were you friends? Like, did you speak or was this from afar?

[A]

One time we rode in the back of a van to my cousin's wedding together and it was the highlight of my existence. No, I was too scared to speak, to speak to him. One time he came and stayed at the beach with us. He was with my cousin and he, like, asked me to change. He was like, oh, here, turn something on the TV that you wanna watch. And I remember I was so terrified that I panicked and turned on the Last Samurai, which is something you obviously love at 13. I was like, oh, my God, oh, my God, oh my God.

[B]

Don't fuck it up, Olivia. Don't fuck it up.

[A]

Anyway, my female cousin, who is also my same age, was also obsessed with him and like. Anyway, Dan Bailey is in our family a legend. Wow, he's a legend.

[B]

Anyway, what about the people that other people might know of?

[A]

Oh, yeah, celebrities. I was like, you don't all know about Dan Bailey.

[B]

I don't know about Dan Bailey, but now I do. Friend of the pod, Dan Bailey.

[A]

I'm gonna get such shit for this at my family reunion entry. By the way. He's iconic though. Okay, so Ashton Kutcher, first and foremost.

[B]

Weird.

[A]

I've talked about this.

[B]

This is an interesting one because we are seven years apart and you were.

[A]

Never into Ashton Kutcher. You missed it entirely.

[B]

I wouldn't say I missed it entirely, but like, no, like, I remember Punk'd being on when I was in high school, but I. This was not. This did not do it for me.

[A]

Oh, I was deep in it. Loved him. Then when I was a little bit older, Sean Faris, which he's dropped off the face of the earth. Star of the classic Sleepover, I think I've mentioned on here. Loved that I rented his movie Fight Club or Fight Knight or Fight, something from. From Blockbuster. And then a little bit older was Robert Pattinson. Obviously we've talked about this before.

[B]

It was his glitter that really did it for you.

[A]

And I wanted to give an honorable mention to a weird phase I went through in high school where I was just like very deeply obsessed with any indie musician who had a beard, regardless of what they looked like beyond that.

[B]

So, like, what's the weirdest one?

[A]

Like the guy from Iron and Wine.

[B]

I have no idea what he looks like.

[A]

Ray Lamontagne. They're all sort of Ray Lamontaging.

[B]

Appropriate crush for 14 year old Olivia.

[A]

Like, you could have lamented. I'm sure he had a beard.

[B]

He does. Yeah. He still does.

[A]

This guy, William Fitzsimmons, who basically sang in like a whisper tone and was completely bald with a huge beard. It was, like, amazing. I don't know what it was.

[B]

The guy from Iron and Wine, like, if you put it into black and white and you were like, this was a guy who was in Isola. I would be like, yeah, no, that track. He was on the ship.

[A]

This is why I'm talking about this. Because someone out there, I can't be the only one, that was, like, really deep in the indie music scene. And I was like, if you have a guitar and you have a beard, I literally will ask nothing else of you in order to be attracted. That is all I need. A low point, probably, but. Okay, tell me yours. I've gone on.

[B]

My most formative celebrity crush, I think, was titanic era Leonardo DiCaprio. It's not original, but I think it was maybe like the Robert Pattinson of my micro generation. Second Paul Walker, RIP don't have a thing of blondes, but Jesus, Paul Walker did it for Teen Me.

[A]

Yeah, that movie with the Sharks. I don't think I've saw that one with Jessica Alba.

[B]

I don't think I've seen that one.

[A]

I'm making this up. I was also very into Paul Walker, so we have overlap there.

[B]

And then his co star from the Skulls, a underappreciated early 2000s movie, is one of my most enduring celebrity crushes that I stand by today. Joshua Jackson, AKA Pacey Witter.

[A]

And he's still out there doing his thing.

[B]

He's now on that Boat Medicine show that I keep seeing commercials for. But I don't think looks very good.

[A]

I hear it's not. Yeah, this is a fun category. I like this one.

[B]

Okay, so karaoke songs. Are you a big karaoke person? I don't see that for your personality.

[A]

In the privacy of my own car.

[B]

Oh, but, like, not like, going to karaoke?

[A]

No, I've never done karaoke, actually.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I've never been, like, choosing my song, going up there and doing it. Never.

[B]

I find karaoke very cringe. Like, watching other people be bad singers. Like, I think when people do great karaoke, I appreciate it. But, like, just being drunk and going to a karaoke bar, I'm like, this is so cringe to me. So I try to avoid it.

[A]

It's hard because you kind of have to get an even talent level within the group because if one person goes up and is really good or even average. It kind of throws off the whole thing.

[B]

I don't mind if my friends, my group of people are bad, because that's funny and you know them. But when strangers are bad, I find it deeply uncomfortable.

[A]

Well, also, there's a difference between they're bad and they know they're bad, or they're bad and they think they're good.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I do love when my family and I go on cruises, going to the lounge at night and watching the karaoke. Cause there's always one old man that just sings the same Frank Sinatra song every night. And this is like he's living for.

[B]

This moment all year long. He's like, it's almost my time.

[A]

Yep, exactly.

[B]

If you were going to karaoke, what would your three songs be?

[A]

Right. I am prepared. Okay. So first and foremost, always Goodbye Earl by the Chicks. Actually, just an excellent song all around. Great to sing, fun, good in groups. Second, I rediscovered the song this week. 2am by Anna Nalek. One hit wonder.

[B]

Is this a Grey's Anatomy song?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so is the next one, actually, I think. And that is how to Save a Life by the Fray, which speaks.

[B]

So you're really bringing the mood down at karaoke.

[A]

Who's surprised? I just think there's no song more fun to sing than How To Save a Life by the Fray. Like, I don't know what they were doing. They really just went off. It's a great song. There's a satisfying, deep feeling of just greatness when you sing that song. Okay, tell me yours.

[B]

So I'm not a good singer. So that is baked into these choices. I think Hero by Enrique Iglesias is a very funny karaoke choice.

[A]

So these are, like, easier to sing. You're, like, strategizing it.

[B]

Or they're funny. Yeah. Or like they have a comedic thing built in.

[A]

I see.

[B]

So I think Hero by Enrique Iglesias is very funny. Like, you can be very serious about singing it poorly, and it's funny. Never Ever by All Saints. It really depends on the age of people you're with. This was such a bop for such a specific micro generation of people. And if you know it, you're like, oh, wow, I haven't heard this song in forever. And if you don't know it, it starts out with this really long spoken word part. You're like, what the fuck is this? So, yeah. Love Never Ever by All Saints. And then I think Spice up youp Life by the Spice Girls is a really fun one. Cause it has like the call and response where it's like, every boy and every girl spice up your life. Like, the crowd can get into it.

[A]

Oh, you are much more strategic than me. I was just like, what do I personally like to sing alone, But I think you have the better method.

[B]

But I don't want to go to karaoke. This is only a forced. No, not really. I can give it up easily. I can go cold turkey on karaoke.

[A]

It doesn't add much to my life, but I do enjoy watching other people do it. Okay, next we have TV romance plotlines or couples, I guess.

[B]

Oh, this one was really important to me.

[A]

Okay, start us off.

[B]

Then the Olivia Fitz Jake love triangle on Scandal. Also, most of mine are, like, deeply problematic romances, which apparently just hooks me in even deeper. Oh, wow. Like, there was nothing like the high of Scandal airing live. What times t g I t the next one, Especially in the early seasons, Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass. The way I was so gone for that couple. The episode where they're at that white party in the Hamptons and she tries to get him to say that he loves her and he won't. Oh, my God.

[A]

Do they end up together on that show?

[B]

That's a great question. She dates Dan at one point in the later episodes.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I think she does end up with Chuck at the end.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then Connor and Marianne from Normal People. Oh, my God. The way I was invested in that show, that could be another best book to screen adaptation.

[A]

Mm. Incredible chemistry.

[B]

Your first one was also in consideration for me.

[A]

Yeah, this. This to me was hard because this one is so clear to me that I was like, what can even compete with this? I did come up with some Nick and Jess on New Girl. I mean. Oh, just there are that kiss episode.

[B]

Where at the end, it was the season two season. Yeah. Like, when they finally kiss. Oh, my God, it's so good.

[A]

It holds up. And I actually think it kind of gets better with age. Like, I appreciate how much chemistry they have more because I watch so much TV where people don't. It's just great.

[B]

This is such a great rewatch show. Like, I did not appreciate how funny this was when it was on air. And it definitely has its moments of, like, fatphobia and, like, attitudes that are not super of the times, but some of the jokes in there that are just little throwaway jokes are so funny. Like, it is the show that I think I laugh out loud the most when I'm watching.

[A]

Yes. Winston. And also she. I don't even know who's Funnier because they are both so perfectly cast and so funny in their own. Oh, my God, it's so good. It's so, so good. We didn't appreciate it enough when it was on. I think my next one is Emma and Dexter and One Day. Everyone knows how much I love the Netflix adaptation of One Day.

[B]

So to be clear, the new One Day, not the original One Day, the new One Day.

[A]

I just love that show so much. And if there is one that's gonna compete with Nick and Jess, it's gotta be Priest and Fleabag from Fleabag. I don't think I've ever watched a scene that, like, made me. Just changed my whole brain chemistry, to use a TikTok phrase, more than the scene where he's like, Neil. I was like, excuse me. Like, it just. It rocked my world. It really did. I think about it all the time. Also, the chemistry, the banter between them. Oh, my God. It, like, literally makes my brain want to explode. I'm so obsessed with it, and I watch it, like, every year. It's so good.

[B]

I know. This episode has made me immediately want Shake Shack and now want to rewatch Fleabag.

[A]

That's a. Sounds like a great combination, actually.

[B]

Yeah. What am I getting done this Friday? Maybe not much.

[A]

What about reality tv?

[B]

Okay, I'm not a big reality show person, so this is definitely more your category than mine. But I would say the Real Housewives of New York, I've watched, I would say about 50% of the old cast, and then I've watched all of the new cast. A very blink and you'll miss it. Show that I think only did one season called NYC Prep, which was the reality version of Gossip Girl. And, oh, my God, I was so invested in that. I'm still so upset that it was canceled. And then in terms of formative reality tv, Laguna Beach, I'm the same age as them, so we graduated high school the same year. And when it was airing, I mean, they aired it like, a year behind, so I was a freshman in college when they were airing. I guess it would have been like their junior or senior year in high school. And I was so obsessed with the show.

[A]

I loved it, too.

[B]

And the Hills, what are yours? The Hills went on for too long for me.

[A]

Oh, I just. I remember the early seasons, but it was, like, right on the back of the.

[B]

Yeah, the early seasons I did love, but then, like, the later ones, and then when I got into the city, I was like, there's too much here.

[A]

The city. Oh, yeah. Okay. Mine is to me, there is no better reality television on Earth than Real Housewives at Salt Lake City. I. I just. I'm in awe that they managed to put people together in such a perfectly dramatic, interesting, entertaining way. I like incredible hands. Hands down, just the best franchise and maybe the best reality television I've ever seen. Close second is Real Housewives of Orange county, which I've just been watching for so long. And there's just something about Shannon Beador that I can't look away from and probably never will be able to look away from.

[B]

When my friends were visiting the other weekend, one of my friends was watching Real Housewives of Orange county all the way through for the first time. And so we were watching kind of like a middle season from maybe 2016 of the real Houses of Orange County. Vicki's still there. Yeah. It was so good. I don't trust myself to get invested in it because I feel like that is too comprehensive an interest for me. I don't have the time to invest right now, but I was like, wow, I get it.

[A]

I think anyone who says that those are not the two. I also am not, like, people are really into Beverly Hills, but I've never been into it, but I think those are the top two franchises for sure. And then finally, Below Deck to me, is a perfect reality show as well. Like, I don't watch it regularly. I'm not, like, tuning in every week, but if it's on, I'll always watch it. And I'm always, like, immediately hooked. It's just so, so, so entertaining and, like, actually very interesting. The scenery is beautiful. I love it. I think it's great.

[B]

All right, last category. Miscellaneous. I think we can go quickly through two of these, and then two are meaty, so I don't know. We'll see. So many people had a variation of this one. Things to do when you need a reset.

[A]

What are yours?

[B]

Take a walk. That is my duct tape of, like, anything broken. Take a walk. Second one. Go to bed early and don't set an alarm. I feel like usually when I need a reset, I mostly just need sleep or a snack.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then the third, which is newer for me. I have really embraced the angry journal entry, and I've used it a few times when I'm going through something, and it has really helped more than I would have expected.

[A]

Yeah, that's one of mine, too. Journal, for sure. Also, one of mine is to just let my phone die. Like, my phone is never fully charged. This is a fun fact about me. I. Because I only Charge it in, like, 10 minutes. Spurts.

[B]

What?

[A]

Really kick. I know. It's really horrible. It's so chaotic. Like, I always charge it when I'm in the car. Yeah, I really only charge it for, like, 15 minutes at a time if I'm not in the car, because I don't charge it at night. So, like, my phone is often dead when I wake up. What? It's really, really, really chaotic. I.

[B]

We need to move on. I can't. I do not support this.

[A]

I know, but if I'm feeling really bad and my phone is gonna die, I just let it. And then I just, like, don't pick it up for hours, and it feels luxurious and great. And then my final one, don't make.

[B]

Olivia your emergency contact.

[A]

Well, also, sometimes now that I have messages on my computer, like, I just let it die. And then if someone needs me, I know they're gonna text me and I'll see it, but I'm like, I don't need to be, like, on it. I know. It's very weird. I don't know what's going on with me and my phone. I've really gone from, like, the heights of addiction to I just, like, don't want anything to do with it. But also, I should probably just charge my phone at night like a normal, functional human being. So those are my three.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

What about candle scents? I've changed a lot. I'm not as, like, opinionated on this anymore, but tell me yours.

[B]

I don't believe that you are a candle queen. At your apartment in Philly, you had a candle, like, credenza.

[A]

Like, the fact that you can't come up with.

[B]

The fact that you can't come up with three top candle scents. I refuse to accept.

[A]

I can talk about notes. I just don't have, like, top three that I'm using right now.

[B]

I. I don't accept that. I. I will go first so you can do green lights from them.

[A]

I also am a fan of all three of the ones you've mentioned, so in your outline. So tell us.

[B]

Okay, so the first one that came to mind. And two of these are limited edition or discontinued, so it's not helpful, but okay. The new Savant Summer Splendor candle. I do not know why, but I feel positive it is what Stanley Chucci's kitchen smells like.

[A]

This is so true. I can confirm that 100%.

[B]

Yes, it's a kitchen candle. Like, I would not want it burning in my bedroom. Say so. The notes are Castelvetrano olives and dining Al fresco with notes of Italian white wine, salty green olives, charred artichoke and roasted sesame. This fragrance smells like a sun drenched summer holiday with friends. I do not know if this is discontinued or if they'll bring it back every summer, but God do I hope that this relaunches because I'm going to buy a ton.

[A]

It's very good.

[B]

My second one is my signature fall candle, which is also limited edition. The Brooklyn Candle Company apple cider candle is perfect to me and I'm so sad that they don't sell it year round.

[A]

This is the one you very nicely got me, I think when you came to stay. And it, it's delicious smelling. It's very, very nice.

[B]

I love it. And then my like go to all purpose workhorse candle and I also have the reed diffuser of is the hotel lobby candle signature one. I just think it's like so light, so perfect, so nice. Like it's florally and I really like it.

[A]

Yeah, I've liked all the hotel lobby candles I've tried.

[B]

I really liked their Hamptons one last summer too, which I hope they'll bring back, which is also a kitchen candle. And I feel like that's what Ina Garten's kitchen smells like.

[A]

Mm, love that vibe.

[B]

Yeah. Do you really have nothing here?

[A]

I'm in my go to Marshalls and buy 10 of the best smelling candles I can find Era. Like I have one here right now that is vanilla to wick and I love it. It's in my office. I have another one burning in the living room and I can't even remember what the scents are, but basically I like most candle scents as long as it's not like a heavy cologne smell. Like I don't like a manly vibe. Bath and Body Works doesn't send me them anymore. So it's like I'm not, you know, diving deep into the exact fragrances in the way that I used to, which explaining that to new people I meet, by the way, which it comes up sometimes very confusing. Like. Yeah, so Jake and I used to do this thing, we smell candles.

[B]

Okay, so here's something I know you have opinions on because you wrote about some of this in your newsletter the other week.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Top three, late 90s, early 2000s beauty products.

[A]

Yes. I really went down the nostalgia rabbit hole. First and foremost, Dream Matte Mousse Foundation. Did you ever use this?

[B]

No.

[A]

Oh my God, the texture is so weird. Like I kind of want to buy one on ebay or something and just.

[B]

Like remind me it's also now deeply expired.

[A]

I mean, I really don't pay attention to expiration dates on makeup. I'll be honest. Probably should, but it's. It's gotta be, like, it had to make me look terrible. I can't even imagine that it would work because it's so, like, so matte and so just cakey. Also a Lancome Juicy tube lip gloss.

[B]

No. This I am familiar with.

[A]

Yeah, I remember that. Clear. Just the applicator. It's just so, so, so clear in my mind. And then finally, the clearasal face pads. The astringent, stinging, borderline painful effect. I actually think I took my makeup off with these at one point, which hurts me to think about. Those are the three that really just stick in my brain.

[B]

Interesting. I wonder if you have the same affinity for any of mine, because I do think this is another micro generation thing where it's like the products come in and out. Did you ever have the hard candy lip gloss?

[A]

I did not.

[B]

It was so goopy, and it smelled like a sugar cookie. And it was from Sephora. Like, it was like, not. I don't know, it was probably $15. Like, it wasn't hugely expensive, but it wasn't drugstore. And I remember this being the height of cool. There was a clear one with sparkles in it. And then there was one that I would call light tan that was very chic.

[A]

Light, light tan.

[B]

It was not a flattering color.

[A]

It's like it would make me look dead.

[B]

Well, it was gloss, so just a light tan wash over your lips.

[A]

Dead. But going to the club.

[B]

Yeah, those are really important to me.

[A]

Amazing.

[B]

Also, the Stila Kitten sparkle powder. It was like the poof of sparkles.

[A]

No, I don't remember this either.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. This was very important to high school me. And then the Clinique Black Honey lipstick, which endures, I saw that it was having a comeback. It was really important to me as a means to get the Clinique free gift with purchase, which I was like, was a huge part of my late middle school, early high school shopping life.

[A]

Mm. Clinique was, like, the only makeup place I really bought makeup from as, like, a tween. I don't know if this. It was just the most popular, but. Yeah, I know Black honey from it being popular now. Yeah, it's pretty.

[B]

It is pretty. Yeah. Yeah. All right. I thought this would be a nice one to end with. Somebody had the prompt compliments that stick with you forever.

[A]

Hmm. That is a nice one. Tell me about Yours.

[B]

So the first one happened the other week, so it's a recent one. My friend John, I'd asked him to read the first 60 pages of my current book to give feedback, and he just, he wrote back and like, his top line note was like, God, you're just such a good writer. And having that be just like a baseline, I don't know, it just. I needed it hit me at the right time. He doesn't have any reason to lie to me. And I was like, oh, wow. And then the other two, I don't have, like, specifics of, but for the context or, like, the wording. But anytime anyone tells me I'm a good friend, which I really pride myself on, and anytime anyone tells me I'm funny, same.

[A]

There's nothing that could possibly make me feel better than someone saying I'm funny. Isn't it the best?

[B]

Oh, it's the best.

[A]

Well, those are all great.

[B]

What about you?

[A]

So two came to mind. Very similar to yours. One is, I don't remember this person's name, which I feel really bad about, but the very first book event I did in Wayne, Pennsylvania, this person came through the line and I could tell she was really nervous, which I also get. Do you get really nervous if you go through signing lines for authors? Like, even if you've been on the other side? Oh, okay. Well, I do. And anyway, she was. She was just saying, like, about essays I write and how they make her cry and, like, they make her feel less alone. And I don't know, it was just like this moment of, like, I had written in the quiet of my own little world for so long, meeting someone who had actually impacted them and, like, made me feel less alone. Like, it was just a really meaningful moment in my life. And thank you to that person if you happen to be listening. And then the second one is similar, but on my second Trova trip, I met so many amazing people, but I met this woman named Sarah, who's really cool. And at the last dinner, she took the time to tell me that the things I had written about body stuff in particular and body image, had just helped her so much in her own journey. I guess it's kind of the same thing, but just anytime someone has told me that something I've written has made them feel less alone, it's made me feel so much less alone.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it's just like the most deeply rewarding thing I can possibly imagine. And I feel that way about so many people's writing that, like, anyway, it's just. I'LL never forget it. And I should say, like, people always seem very nervous at events like this to say stuff or to take extra time and be like, oh, I read this essay. But it is truly, like, the stuff I'll remember when I'm, like, dying one day. So I appreciate people that take the time.

[B]

I love that. Thus concludes our top three. But we don't. We have a little more. We have some end matter. And I feel very passionate about my obsession.

[A]

We had to talk about this.

[B]

All right, Olivia, what are you obsessed with?

[A]

I'm obsessed with. I ordered these overalls from Gap. They are these barrel jean overalls. They looked cute. But overalls are very, very tricky, especially if you're tall. Especially if you're plus size. I tried them on and I, like, squealed. They fit so well. They're baby soft. They're like the. Cause denim can be very stiff. Especially overalls. Cause I have a lot of, like, work overalls that I think are technically for men that are so scratchy. Oh, my. These are the. It's the best clothing purchase I have made in so long. I regret to inform everyone that they are sold out in every size but Gap. When they come back, buy multiples of them. I'm going back and buying multiples. They. They run large, they come in tall, but they are so absurdly comfortable. I think they look great. I love them. I love them. I love them. I love them. I like. I'm just so passionate about them.

[B]

I'm so happy for you and your new barrel jean life.

[A]

Yeah, I know. Big pants two weeks in a row. Yeah. Okay, tell me about your obsession.

[B]

Okay. I know that I have had a lot of TV obsessions recently, and then I keep having a new show that I'm like, you need to watch this. This is so good. This is so good. Like, this is so good. Okay, so I watched paradise on Hulu. I watched the whole season in four days. Only eight episodes. It's all out now. Grace had texted me, like, maybe two weeks ago, and she was like, you need to watch Paradise. You'll like it. And I was like, grace, I'm pretty busy. I'm rewatching Lost. And I think I've overdone it a little bit on Lost. I'm slowing down on Lost. And this week I was like, yeah, I can watch something else. I started Paradise. It is with Sterling K. Brown is a Secret Service agent and James Marsden is the president. And it has a sci fi twist that you find out at the end of episode one, which could very likely Happen. And oh, my God, it's so good. And especially episode seven of it. I do think that the whole thing was good, but episode seven, my heart was pounding. I think it might be one of the best episodes of television ever. Episode seven of that show.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yes. Have you watched this? Are you compelled to watch this? Do you hate it?

[A]

No. Yes and no. Okay, so I have. We watched the first two. First three episodes.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Like, as a concept. Love it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Love, love, love, love. So compelling. So my thing, I love the main actors. I think James Marsden is great. Sterling K. Brown is great. I find the writing really cheesy.

[B]

Like, I mean, it is the same writer as this is Us, which you.

[A]

Can tell, except there's, like, random, like, adult language throwing. Cause it's Hulu. But we had to stop. I just couldn't do it. I just found it so heavy on the cheese. And also, like, I didn't care about the, like, stuff with the daughter. Like, I just, like, give me all Sterling K. Brown and nothing else. And James Marston. So, yeah, I don't know. We. We tried to keep watching it, and I dropped off, but I did read the summary of each episode on Wikipedia.

[B]

Oh. So you know. You know what happened in episode seven.

[A]

Yeah. On paper, I'm like, I should be as into this as anything. But, you know, I honestly think also it might be that I'm like, all I can think about is severance. So that's it. But I'm so glad that you love it so much. It's already renewed for a second season.

[B]

I can't wait. The setup for the second season. I am go.

[A]

Yeah, there's a lot to explore. Yeah, it's fun. I'll give it that.

[B]

Oh, my God. Reading. I am reading two things. One of them, I have, like, 10 pages left of. And frankly, I don't know if I like it. I'm unsure. I need to, like, collect my thoughts some more. And the second thing I'm reading, I'm only maybe 20% into, so I don't want to talk about it yet, but I'm in a good reading groove.

[A]

Good, good.

[B]

Do you have anything?

[A]

Yeah, I haven't finished anything this week, so. So I'll probably have something next week.

[B]

I mean, we've talked long enough, but this is still a reading podcast, and we have our March book club coming up at the end of the month. We're reading Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley. In our conversation last night, she said her two references were high fidelity meets normal people. And I think that is spot on. It's set in the indie music scene in the early 2000s. It's about these two people who have a very deep connection. One is a music journalist and one is a musician. And it's kind of a like, I guess it's technically a romance, but it's more why can't we be together? Than them being together. But oh my gosh, it's so good. If you have a playlist for every mood, if you are somebody who has like a song that transports you right back to a moment in your life, I think you're going to really appreciate this book, Olivia. I know you are that person musically, so I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this.

[A]

I think I'm gonna love it. I snagged the last copy left at Rough Draft in Kingston the other day, so felt excited about that. Looking forward to it.

[B]

Take us home, Olivia.

[A]

If you want to talk to us about any of this and gosh, there is a lot, you can join us in the Facebook group under Bow and Paper podcast or in Geneva, which is like our giant social Slack sort of thing. Or on Instagram @boundandpaper podcast I am on Instagram and everywhere on the Internet substack all the places.

[B]

Olivia mentor I am on Instagram ecamfreeman and my newsletter is @beccafreeman substack.com and we will see you next week.

[A]

Bye.